A traditional and contemporary gospel legend, having sung with the world famous "Soul Stirrers" of Sam Cooke fame for 25 years, and after traveling most of the world singing and praising the Lord, he decided to go it alone for awhile.

9 MP3 Songs
GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel, BLUES: Rhythm & Blues



Details:
DILLARD CRUME

BIOGRAPHY

Many years ago, when he was just a little boy, Dillard developed the idea that he wanted to be a gospel singer. Little did he know that this childhood aspiration would someday become reality.

Born in the state of Missouri, Dillard heard his first gospel quartet at the tender age of five. At the age of 81/2, he and his family migrated to the city of Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 91/2, Dillard's oldest brother, A.C. Crume, taught all of the younger brothers to sing.

There were and still are eight boys and two girls in Dillard's family, of which six of the boys formed a gospel group called ÂThe Crume BrothersÂ, when Dillard was only 9 years of age.

After developing their singing and musical talents during the early years, the ÂCrume Brothers' became quite famous in their own right in the city of Chicago, Il.

Other professional groups began to gain an interest in the singing and musical abilities of the brothers, and at the age of 19, Dillard was approached by the famous ÂFive Blind Boys of Mississippi to become their guitarist and background singer. He accepted their offer and traveled extensively within the United States.

After singing and playing with the ÂBlind Boys', Dillard became a member of the ÂHighway Q.CsÂ, of Chicago, IL.

After his stint with the ÂHighway Q.Cs', Dillard left the gospel field for awhile and played R&B and Rock & Roll, Blues, etc., for about 10 years.

While visiting the late great ÂWillie Dixon (Little Red Rooster, Wang Dang Doodle) one day, Dillard got his first chance to leave the country.

Willie was the American coordinator for the ÂAmerican Folk Blues Festival of 1968, which was booked out of Frankfurt, Germany by the ÂLippman Rau' concert bureau, and gave Dillard the opportunity to travel to Europe as the bass player and emcee of the show, which consisted of thirteen acts including; ÂSon HouseÂ, ÂSonny Terry & Brownie McGeeÂ, ÂLittle WalterÂ, ÂHoundog TaylorÂ, ÂKoKo TaylorÂ, ÂOdie PayneÂ, and others.

After years of playing and singing R&B & Rock & Roll, which included a stint with his own band (The Soul Rockers), Dillard felt an emptiness in his life. Realizing what that emptiness was, Dillard returned to Âgospel' singing as the lead singer and producer of the world famous ÂSoul Stirrers of Chicago, Illinois in 1976.

This is the very same group that gave the world the late great ÂSam CookeÂ.

Dillard traveled even more extensively with the ÂSoul Stirrers', having traveled to all of the western European countries, the Carribean, Canada, Japan, etc., singing
God's praises.

In 1998, Dillard formed his own gospel group called: ÂDillard Crume and the ÂSoul CrusadersÂ, and has a new CD release out at this time.

Little did Dillard know when he had a dream at the tender age of five, that his dream would become reality, and allow him to travel the world over, singing and playing the music he loves.